Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-01-27
THE ARMORED RAM.
AN EXPERT DECLARES IT 70 Be
THE COMING VESSEL.

AN EXPERT DECLARES IT TO BE
THE COMING VESSEL.
Proper Construction NJ an Efficient Ram,
aud the Great Advantages 1t Would
Possess Over Other Kinds Of Plated
War ships.
If the limit in size has probably been
reached in the construction ot the guns
that throw a projectile weighing ton,
and if the limit in aTmOr has probably
been reached in the vessels that measure
its thickness by the foot, and if the ut
most limit Of speed in the unarmored
cruisers with present engines is likely to
be nbout twenty one knots, as you say,
what will be the next thing for govern
ments to construct for Use in war at sea-"
asked reporter who had been talking
with a naval officer about modern war
ships.
''Armored rams" he replied. The
ram has been neglected for years in the
race for superiority between armOr and
guns. but the usefulness of an armored
ram in defending II port against the at
taCks of an enemy must soon attract at
tention once more, and then We will have
discussion on the proper model and
power to bc given such vessel. "
Az FEEONEOUs BELIEF.
1t is commonly b. lieved tha, all mod
ern war vessels are 6lilt with bows con
structed strong enough to ram an enemy"
was suggested.
YES. hut the belief is for the most part
erroneous. 1t is true that the lines of the
stems of the ships project out to Il sharp
angle below the water line, and that the
plates and framing thereabOuts are
stronger than in other parts of the ship.
II one of these ships should happen TO hit
bow on another one in the side il would
prnbably make hole III her but there Is
every reason TO believe that the vessel
striking would be about rs seriously dam
aged aS the vessel struck. particularly
if the latter were running at full speed
when struck The attacking vessel would
get its nose twisted. off. and perhaps she
would he rolled clear over just ~ the coal
schooner was that rammed the Oregon.
Neither the unarmOred cruiser nor the
heavy armOred harbOr defense war ship is
adapted for ram. The cruiser is not strong
enough for one thing. and has not beam
enough for another. Besides, a big shell
from the enemy would destroy her before
she got gear enough 10 ram. The armored
war ship is so big and unwleldy that she
could only hope to ram an enemy through
piece of good luck The shape of the
bows Of these vessels is all wrong for
ramming As said, the ram on them il
simply knuckle joint in the stem. 4
cross section through this part of the ves-
sci would show that il was much better
adapted to stand strain above or below
than from either side. Now ram must
needs stand vertical strain, for in sea-
way as she and the enemy pitched and
rolled about. the ram woUll he apt TO
plunge down into the Cnemys side with u
meat axe stroke, but il must he rcmcm-
bered that the enemy is sure TO he in mo-
ZION. probably going ahead at full speed,
and that the side wrench that she give the
ram would be much more disastrous than
any resiStanCe of her side plating 1t is
difficult for a landsman 10 conceive the
awful strain which the ram would receive
Us the two vessels rolleI and plunged to-
gether in Il seaway.
A RAMS PROPER FORM.
The proper form for the bow of ram
is modification of duck bill, wider than
il is deep, with stout but sharp edges on
each side Then as the enemy rushed by,
dragging the ram along with her, the
broad nose Of the ram would simply rip
the whole side out of the strongest ship
made, and she'd sink like a lead with her
next roll The destructive force of u pro-
jectile weighing ton, when moving with
an initial velocity of 1900 feet, is awful,
but the power Of a projectils weighing
5000 tons moving al twenty-onc knots an
hour is almost infinitely greater. The
shot may miss the mark, so may the ram;
but the ram is an animated prOjectile that
can try and try again.
But where would the ram be if the
enemy ton preiectile struck it,
Right Oh its way for the enemy 4
wei built ram would expose only u steel
turtle back above the water. This could
be made so thick that ii would resist any
projectile particularly as the projectilc
must necessarily strike it at such an angel
as to glance oil. The ram would not be
safe from attack beyond peradventure.
but its chances of coming out of a conflict
uTinjured would be much more numerous
than those of any other form of vessel.
She would have no gun turrets nor other
exposed or angular parts to stOpa pro-
Jectlle. y torpedo hhght feaCh her, nut
the chances would be against that. De-
signed only for coast defense the ram
would need TO carry but a small amount
OF coal She would not be numbered up
with guns and their attendant machinery
and ammunition. Her sole mission Is to
run rapidly and to turn quickly, so as TO
keep bow on To the enemy. She would
have 10 be broad enough to give stability
10 carry the weight of her steel deck and
to carry powerful engines and screws. She
would he cheap 10 build, safe to handle,
and thoroughly effective in time Of -battfp..
We ought to begin tesChscuss the plans of
a new lf4l-aiilI5: 70 be built for use solely as
Yam New York Sun.